Dust-pan.



No. 715,756. Patanted Dec. J6, I902.

T. cpovzn. DUST PAN.

{Ayplieation filed Mar. 28, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CLOVER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DUST-PAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '71 5,7 56, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed March 28, 1902. Serial. No. 100.440.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CLOVER, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dust-Pans, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a dust-pan; and it consists in providing the pan proper with areceptacle or dust-chamber of improved form and construction, in which the dust and sweepings may be temporarily stored and from which they may be conveniently discharged from time to time, the object being to prevent the scattering of the dust around the room as the pan is carried from place to place.

The invention also consists in combining with the dust-chamber a reservoir to contain a disinfectant or like substance, which may be discharged on the accumulated dust in the chamber.

The invention consists also in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dust-pan.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the dust-chamber. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valves for controlling the entrance-opening to the dust-chamber and to the auxiliary chamber, showing how the operating-cap is applied; and Fig. 5 is a modified form of the dust-chamber on a reduced scale.

My improved device comprises a pan proper, 1, onto which the dust isswept from the floor, and a dust-chamber 2 at the rear edge of the pan, into which the dust passes from the pan and from which it may be discharged from time to time.

The dust-chamber is cylindrical in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 2,with one end, as 3, closed and its opposite end open to admit of the discharge of-its contents, and along its front, adjacent to the rear end of the pan and facing the same, it is provided with a slot or opening 4 for the entrance of the dust. This opening is controlled by a door or valve in the form of a plate 5, mounted within the chamber and adapted to be moved over the opening or free of the same, as desired. The

(No model.)

plate is connected at one end to the outer edge of a disk 6, which is pivoted at its center by a pivot-pin 7 to the closed end of the dust-chamber, and at its opposite end the plate is rigidly connected with an annular frame 8, which fits Within the open end of the dust-chamber, this construction constituting an oscillating valve movable about the axis 7 as a center. The oscillating movement of the valve is effected by a cap 9, provided with an operating-handle 9 and with an extension 10, which is fitted within and engaged with the annular frame 8 in such manner that when the cap is turned the frame and parts connected therewith will turn with it. This result may be accomplished by fitting the extension on the cap tightly in the frame to cause them to turn'together; but I prefer to fix to the frame an inwardly-projecting pin 11, Figs. 3 and 4, Which is adapted to enter a slot 12 in the extension on the cap when the latter is inserted in place, by which means the cap is so interlocked with the frame that while it may be readily removed therefrom its rotary movement will compel the frame and the connected parts to rotate with it.

In this construction itwill be observed that the cap performs two functionsnamely, that of a means for operating the valve to control the entrance-opening to the dustchamber and that of closing the open end of the chamber.

While for ordinary purposes the dust-chamber described will be of sufficient capacity, I propose when occasion demands to provide an additional or auxiliary chamber communicating with the primary chamber, so that it will not be necessary to discharge the dust from the pan until both chambers are filled. This auxiliary chamber is represented at 13 below the pan proper, its bottom being formed by a plate 13 connected at its front edge to the front edge of the pan proper, and side walls 14, which bottom and side walls are joined at their rear ends to the cylindrical chamber, which latter is formed below the pan proper, with the slot 15 forming a communication between the two chambers. This communicating opening is controlled by a door 16, connected at its ends, respectively, to the disk 6 and the annular frame Sin such relation to the valve 5 that when the latter is closed over the entrance to the cylindrical chamber the door 16 will uncover the communicating opening, and when the valve 5 is opened, as shown in Fig. 2, the communicating opening will be closed. As a result of this arrangement there will be no liability of the contents of the auxiliary chamber returning to the cylindrical chamber when the entrance to the latter is open to receive dust from the pan, nor will there be any liability of the dust escaping through the entranceopening of the cylindrical chamber when the communicating opening is opened to permit of the entrance of the dust to the auxiliary chamber.

In the use of the pan the valve 5 is turned by the cap to open the entrance to the cylindrical chamber, and the dust from the floor is brushed onto the pan proper, whence it passes through the opening 4 into the dustchamber, the valve when the pan is carried from place to place being closed to prevent the escape of the dust from the chamber. NVhen a sufficient quantity has accumulated, it may be discharged by removing the cap and turning the open end of the chamber downward. When the auxiliary chamber is employed, the accumulation from the cylindrical chamber is caused to pass into the same by tipping the pan forward, and the discharge of the contents of both chambers may be efiected by turning the valve so as to close the entrance to the cylindrical chamber and open the communication between the chambers, when the dust from the auxiliary chamber may be caused to return to the cylindrical chamber by tipping the front end of the pan upward, after which the cylindrical chamber may be emptied as before.

In order to limit the oscillating movement of the valves so that they will be arrested at the proper points in their movement to cover and uncover the openings, I provide a stoppin 17, Fig. 2, projecting upward from the front wall of the cylindrical chamber in position to be engaged alternately by the lower edge of the valve 5 and upper edge of the valve 16 as they are moved to open and close the respective openings.

In order that the contents of the dust-chamber may be disinfected to destroy any germs, I combine with the cylindrical chamber a reservoir 18 for holding a disinfectant or like substance, which reservoir communicates with the dust-cl1amber and is provided with a device 19 for forcing the disinfectant into the chamber.

The reservoir is in the form of an elongated cylindrical chamber, which serves as a handle for the d ust-pan and which is detachably connected at its inner end by means of screwthreads with a threaded hollow neck 19, projecting outwardly from the rear side of and communicating with the cylindrical dustchamber. Near its outer end the reservoir is fitted with a sliding plunger 20, having connected with it a stem 21, extending loosely through a plate 22 and connected at its outer end to a pressure-plate 23, by which they plunger may be operated. The pressureplate is acted on by a spiral spring 24, encircling the stem and bearing, respectively, against the pressure-plate and the fixed plate, which spring tends to hold the plunger yieldingly outward. When it is desired to discharge a quantity of the disinfectant into the dust-chamber, the pressure-plate is forced forward, which drives the plunger forward and forces the disinfectant through a perforated plate 25, fixed in the neck 19, and distributes the same in the dust-chamber.

As shown in Fig. 5, the dust instead of being received directly in a chamber fixed to the pan may be received in a removable chamber of cylindric form arranged to fit within the outer cylinder, with its outer end closed and provided with a handle for turning it and with its inner end opened to permit of the discharge of its contents. This removable chamber is provided with a longitudinal slot for the entrance of the dust, which slot may be brought opposite the entrance-opening in the outer cylinder or turned away from the same to close the opening. When a quantity of dust has accumulated, the chamber may be removed endwise and emptied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with the pan proper, a dust-chamber provided with entrance and discharge openings, a valve for controlling the entrance-opening and a removable cover adapted to close the discharge-opening and to operatively connect with the valve; whereby the said cover serves both to close the discharge-opening and to operate the valve.

2. In combination with the pan proper,acylindrical dust-chamber at the rear end thereof open at one end and provided with an entrance-opening facing the pan, an oscillating valve in the chamber adapted to control the entrance-opening, an annular frame connected with the end of the valve at the open end of the chamber, and a cap adapted to interlock with said frame and formed to close the open end of the chamber.

3. In combination with the pan proper a cylindrical chamber at the rear edge thereof, open at one end and closed at the other, and provided with an entrance-opening facing the pan, a disk pivoted centrally to the closed end of the chamber, a plate connected with the disk and extending longitudinally within the chamber, an annular frame connected with the other end of the p1ate,and a cap adapted to close the open end of the chamber and to fit within the annular frame.

4. In combination with the pan proper,a primary dustchamber provided with an entrance-opening, an auxiliary dust-chamber communicating therewith, means for opening and closing the entrance to the primary chamber, and means cooperating with those for opening and closing the primary chamber for controlling the communication between the two chambers.

5. In combination with the pan proper, a primary dust -'chamber provided with an entranceopening, means for opening and closing said entrance-opening, an auxiliary dust-chamber communicating therewith and means cooperating with the means for opening and closing the entrance opening for opening the communication between the chambers when the entrance-opening to the primary chamber is closed, and vice versa.

6. In combination with the pan proper,a primary dust-chamber at the rear edge formed with an entrance-opening facing the pan, an auxiliary dust-chamber below the pan commu nicating with the primary chamber through an opening in the same below the pan, and oscillating, operatively-con nected valves, arranged to close the entrance to the primary chamber when the communicating opening is opened, and vice versa.

7. In combination with a portable dust-pan having constructed as a part thereof a dustreceiving chamber, means sustained by and portable with the pan for discharging a disinfectant into the dust-chamber.

8. The combination with a portable dustpan having constructed therein and as a part thereof a dust-receiving chamber, a reservoir for a disinfectant sustained by andconnected directly with said chamber, and means for discharging the contents of the reservoir into the chamber.

9. In combination with a portable dust-pan having a dust-receiving chamber constructed therein, a reservoir for a disinfectant communicating directly with the chamber and detachably connected to the same; whereby the reservoir may be removed to permit it to be filled with the disinfectant.

10. In a dust-pan the combination with a dust-receiving chamber of a removable elon gated chamber projecting outward therefrom and adapted to serve as'a handle and formed to receive a disinfectant, and a device sustained by said chamber for discharging the contents into the dust-chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of March, 1902,in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

THOMAS CLOVER.

Witnesses:

SoL ALLINGER, GEO. B. SMITH. 

